Winemaker Notes
This Right Bank styled blend pays homage to the strength of Atalon's matriarch. The aromas and avors of dark berries, cocoa nib, tobacco are underlined by a ne trace of minerality - a nod to the majestic geology of Napa Valley and to Pauline's enduring spirit.
Blend: 77.1% Merlot, 13.7% Cabernet Franc, 5.2% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3.1% Malbec, 0.9% Petite Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
This Merlot-based blend is a huge success. It's a big, tannic, tight wine, packed to bursting with black cherry liqueur, cola and spice flavors. Yet it maintains an exciting balance, with the tension between acids, tannins and oak in equilibrium. Seems like it wants 5–6 years in the cellar to let it throw some tannins and mellow. Cellar Selection.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.